Consolation
A woman who worked as a healer had come to the tent and changed out the cloth bandages that covered the stump. Hiccup did not ask to see the injury. The stump no longer truly hurt, though he was sure that it would if he put any weight on it.
Having lost a limb apparently brought consequences beyond just the injury and it being more difficult to get around. The stump alternatively felt numb and warm, usually, but now it tickled, which was almost worse than actual pain. Pain, he could just grit his teeth and ignore, but tickles were much harder to ignore. He so wanted to rub the wound and massage it, but he knew from stories Gobber had told that touching a new wound would not be a good idea.
The Furies had tended to him by licking the stump, which probably helped it to heal some, but the injury was past needing that attention.
"Ready to try again?" Toothless asked from across the tent.
Moonbeam was away for a while, getting a drink at the river, which left more free space for them to practice something necessary in the tent.
"Yep, let's give this another shot. I'll be fine..."
Hiccup grabbed the crutch and stood up while balancing on one foot. Then he started walking as best he could while using the crutch to brace himself. Step, lean, swing forward, and repeat.
Not too bad, I'm getting the hang of...
He stumbled and fell forward except that Toothless darted forward and caught him, letting him hold his neck as he helped him sit down.
"Ugh, thanks..." Hiccup groaned as he lay on the ground.
Toothless hummed softly and then stepped back.
"Go again."
"Again? I really don't see the point..."
"The point is you are learning new walking now, and you need to practice. Go again. Walk to your bed."
"I don't feel like it."
Toothless grumbled.
"Do I need to go get dam to tell you to do this?"
"Really had to use that threat, didn't you?"
"You have rock-head stubbornness problems."
"Fair point," Hiccup sighed.
He grabbed his crutch, forced himself back to his feet... to his foot... and stared with determination at the bed across the tent. He was about to take a step when he froze in surprise.
Several roars sounded from outside the tent. They did not sound like Far-Flight, Sky-Dancer, or Moonbeam.
"What's that?"
Toothless stepped over to him and crouched down to let him climb on. Then they bounded out the tent and saw the Furies who had just arrived. One adult, one cub, and three fledglings were circling in the sky. Toothless roared in greeting to them, and all five of them immediately dove for the ground. They touched down at the same moment that Far-Flight and Sky-Dancer raced toward them low over the tents.
Breath-Of-Sky jumped for Hiccup and Toothless with a cry of greeting and alarm.
"Brothers!" he nuzzled Toothless's neck.
Eyes-That-Shimmer, Windripper, and little Nightfall similarly hopped up to him. Mystery bounced on her paws while anxiously looking around. Eyes-That-Shimmer, being the adult among the group, stepped forward with her eyes narrowed.
"Where is he? Where is my mate!" she desperately asked.
Hiccup and Toothless had no time to answer before Far-Flight and Sky-Dancer touched down and pranced up to them.
"Eyes-That-Shimmer, you came for your mate, true?" Far-Flight warbled.
"Yes! We flew here to be with our kin. Where is he?"
"Follow us!" Sky-Dancer cried.
They all jumped for the sky and flew over the tents toward the base of the mountain.
Hiccup winced at the thought of the reunion that was about to happen. Eyes-That-Shimmer was about to meet her grounded mate, and Windripper and Nightfall were about to meet their maimed father. Hopefully nothing bad or life-shattering would happen soon.
They could also tell what happened since the pack left and returned to Rohan. But this meeting was more important for now.
The short flight was finished not even a minute later. They touched down outside the tent where they saw Snowflame sleeping outside the door.
"Snowflame!" Windripper bellowed and hopped toward her.
Her head and ears immediately shot up as she spun around and saw them. Her tail started swaying as Windripper bounded up before her and started nuzzling her neck. They greeted each other without saying anything.
As Hiccup saw them greeting each other, he felt none of that awkwardness at the thought of them already living like a pair of mates. There was no truly official human equivalent for what they were, living as mates and being together but not officially, technically, mates yet, but human customs didn't truly apply to them anyway. And it was clear to him that they both truly cared for each other and were not just pleasing themselves.
Then he felt a nose against his palm.
"Hiccup?" Mystery hummed.
"Yes, Mystery?"
"Where is Moonbeam?"
"She is away getting some water. She will fly back to us soon."
"Okay."
Snowflame then stepped away from Windripper and nuzzled Nightfall's nose first and then Eyes-That-Shimmer's second. Everyone packed in close.
"How is he?" Eyes-That-Shimmer whispered.
"He needs you all very much" Snowflame whispered back.
"Who?" Nightfall chirped.
"Your sire, little one."
"Where is sire?" Nightfall asked, her tail swaying.
"He is in the tent-den, little one..." Eyes-That-Shimmer whispered.
Windripper shuffled in place while staring at the tent. Snowflame then bounded over to the tent and stuck her nose inside.
"Wing-Of-Ice, come out here!" she cried and then hopped back.
Eyes-That-Shimmer and Windripper visibly winced when they heard Snowflame's words. Hiccup thought that they probably knew the truth of what had happened. Everyone paused and waited for whatever was going to happen.
Several seconds passed before Wing-Of-Ice, his orange eyes very heavy, poked his head out of the tent and saw everyone. He immediately gasped and froze, staring at them in fear and shock at his entire present family.
Nightfall broke the silence by hopping forward and dashing for him.
"Sire, I found you!" she settled down on her haunches before him.
"Yes... little one... you found me."
Wing-Of-Ice hung his head to nuzzle her forehead, and then he stared back at Eyes-That-Shimmer. Neither of them looked away from each other.
"Will you come to me?" she then softly asked.
He closed his eyes and hung his head in apparent resignation. He stepped forward out of the tent, his tail dragging behind him. His leaving the tent fully revealed the extent of his injury.
They could all see the wing-stump.
Windripper gasped, and Nightfall whined. Eyes-That-Shimmer stared without reacting; even her tail was completely stilled.
"Sire, what happened?" Windripper growled.
"A... twisted-into-wrong dragon... it had big teeth..." Wing-Of-Ice sighed and then stared back at Eyes-That-Shimmer.
"What do you think... my dear... mate..." he hesitantly whispered.
She immediately stepped forward and stopped only inches from him. Then she lay her chin on his forehead.
"I think that living on the ground is not so bad..."
He gasped in shock and hung his head.
"Truly? You and me... still..."
She growled and nipped one of his ears.
"Yes, always. I can do more hunting while you watch the cubs more. We are one."
Wing-Of-Ice whined at that and softly nuzzled her head until she stepped back and spun on Nightfall.
"Little one, come here. We should be with your sire now."
"Okay..."
Eyes-That-Shimmer beckoned to Windripper, and he trotted to his father's side. The entire family then slipped inside the tent together.
Hiccup breathed a sigh of relief that everything had worked out well, though in hindsight it was crazy to think that Eyes-That-Shimmer would have rejected her mate after what happened to him.
Sky-Dancer stepped forward and purred.
"We should let them be alone."
Everyone agreed, walked together a short distance from the tent, and then stopped by a patch of boulders. Snowflame, Mystery, and Breath-Of-Sky sat down at Toothless's side while Sky-Dancer took his other side.
"Anyone hear what has happened with the pack?" Toothless asked.
He knew that Eyes-That-Shimmer would know the most, but she was definitely busy consoling her mate. There was a chance that his brother and his sister through his mate might know something.
Sure enough, Breath-Of-Sky spoke up, far more solemnly than he usually sounded.
"We crossed flights with Flame-In-The-Night and the new dark wings. Everyone else is back at Edoras with no problems. More of the humans and their horses are returning to the ranges."
"And what about Dreamcatcher and Tail-Hunter?" Hiccup whispered.
Breath-Of-Sky hung his head and did not answer for a while. Far-Flight hopped beside him and purred in encouragement.
"They are very chilled. But... the pack has taken them under their wings. They are being helped," Breath-Of-Sky said.
"Good, that is what we should do for them," Sky-Dancer solemnly hummed.
"Is the fighting over now?" Breath-Of-Sky asked, looking around.
"Yes," Hiccup answered, "the humans will do more on their own, but not the pack. It would not be safe for us to fly with the humans on the next flight."
"Why not?" Snowflame wondered.
"Because they are going near an enemy that could try to make you dragons into... thralls, and it might be strong enough to do that to you."
Toothless grunted in reluctant agreement.
"Yes, the enemy is very strong. It would not be good for us to... see him. I have felt his eye on me before."
Breath-Of-Sky hummed and spoke.
"We should stay here and get strong again. You and Hiccup were also hurt. Both my brothers were hurt."
The rush of wings got their attention as Moonbeam flew overhead and heard her sister's welcoming roar. She touched down by them, hopped up to her sister, and nuzzled noses with her. Moonbeam then hopped up to Toothless and offered him a large fish in her maw. He gladly accepted it, and she glanced at Mystery and Breath-Of-Sky.
"Did Eyes-That-Shimmer fly here also?" she asked.
"Yes, she did. She, Windripper, and Nightfall are with Wing-Of-Ice now," Hiccup answered.
"Good."
She again glanced at his missing leg.
"When do you get your new leg-paw?"
"I could go to the healers tomorrow. I'll make myself a new foot eventually, but they can give me one that I can at least walk with..."
She hummed softly with fallen ears.
"Please do. I want you to be walking again..."
"Me too. But it will be a while before that happens."
She hummed as she stared off across the Pelennor.
"I saw many humans walking as a pack into the west. Are they going to a new nest-city?"
"They're going to several other cities. Minas Tirith will be mostly empty soon."
Breath-Of-Sky sighed and lay his head on his paws as he stared at the city in the distance.
"That is sad. This looks like a very big nest-city."
"Yeah, it is. It will be used again when they fix it, but that won't be for a long time..."
Toothless then looked around, realizing that everyone now present had probably flown without much stopping. He could share this same news with the other family after they finished consoling each other.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
"Yes!" they all clamored.
"Good, you will like Olephant."
"What is that?" Mystery hummed.
"It is the biggest prey-animal you have ever seen. They have very fat meat!"
Breath-Of-Sky and Mystery licked their jaws.
Toothless flew Hiccup up to the top level of the city in the morning to meet with the best doctors. They had set up a tent beside the Citadel.
Faramir had sent a messenger to let them know that they were ready to fit Hiccup with a basic peg. It would be enough to help him at least walk on his own.
Faramir greeted him and helped him down from Toothless.
"How are you this morning, Master Haddock?" Faramir kindly greeted him.
"Not bad. I'm alive, so I really shouldn't be complaining."
"That is a simple piece of wisdom. Still, let's see what we can do for you. We have plenty of experience with such wounds. Gondor may have fallen from its greatest glory, but our leechcraft is still wise."
He wasn't entirely sure what all that meant, but he inferred that Gondor had good doctors.
"Sounds good."
Faramir then nodded to Toothless.
"Good dragon, you might want to stay here on the top level or at least not go down within the city. There are still many who are not content with your kind being here."
Toothless nodded back.
"I understand. I will wait here."
Faramir helped Hiccup into the tent where several women were waiting. Hiccup sat down in a chair and held up his left leg for them to inspect after they removed the bandage. The main healing-woman, Ioreth, grumbled to herself as she looked at the wound.
Just as before, he did not want to look. But he knew that he had to face this and should do so sooner rather than later.
"Let me see it," he mumbled.
He did not blanch at the discolored skin that had been sewn together over the stump, fine thread weaving through the skin. He had seen such wounds before back on Berk. But he shivered slightly at the thought of a fine saw being used to slice through the bones in his leg.
Good thing I wasn't awake to feel that...
"How does it look?" he sighed.
"I reckon that you are healing well. We were most suspicious of the dragons' request to... lick your injury... but it appears that their doing so did you no harm," Ioreth answered.
"Oh, yes. Their licks have potent healing properties."
"Fascinating. How many winters have you, young man?"
"Almost eighteen. By the way, what day and month is it?"
"It is the twentieth of March."
Oh, I completely missed February. I'm eighteen now...
"Now, let me see which of these pegs best fits you. This might hurt a little," Ioreth warned him.
"Great, pain, I love it..."
She gave him a confused and amused look and then got back to work. He waited patiently as she considered several of the pegs, eventually selecting a few of the smaller ones which she then held up to his leg.
They were simple devices with a padded cup to hold the stump, straps to tightly wrap around his leg below the knee, and the peg with a rubber tip. These were definitely not long-term solutions, and he knew that he could design something far better and more comfortable.
But at least he could walk or hobble in the meantime.
Ioreth strapped one of the prosthetics to his leg and then she frowned.
"Give that one a try, would you."
She helped him rise, and then he gingerly put weight on his left leg. There was nothing, no pain, at first, and then the fire suddenly flared to life inside his leg.
His bones were melting, splitting apart on each other, and his skin was tearing open.
He gritted his teeth as he fell back into the chair. Tears of pain leaked from his eyes.
But he did not scream or whine.
"Well done, you are a tough one. Most men scream or call for their mothers the first time they stand," Ioreth huffed.
"Yeah... well, mine is dead, so that wouldn't help."
"How did this happen to you? I was not there when you were brought in," Ioreth kindly asked.
"Dragon," he simply said.
"Curious. Several dozen of the soldiers have burns or lost a limb because of those beasts. But I thought you commanded some of the good dragons. Is that mistaken?"
He frowned.
"No, I don't command any of them. The one who did this to me saved my life by catching me."
Ioreth didn't look like she understood how that was possible, but neither did she question what he said.
"Very well then. That peg you have now is the best fit for you among all that we have."
"Thank you, Ioreth."
"Just doing my duty. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have others to attend to."
She departed, and Faramir stepped over to him and held out a flask which he took.
"What's that?"
"Hard liquor. It will help with the pain," Faramir answered.
As someone who was used to and enjoyed Hobbit ales and beers, he was not sure how strong this drink would be.
"How... potent is it?"
Faramir grinned.
"We keep this especially for treating the wounded. Drink sparingly."
Hiccup unscrewed the flask and took a sip of a burning liquor which he almost choked on, but somehow managed to get down.
It was very, very potent.
"Alright, that's going to help a lot! I'm definitely going to feel that later, or I might not feel anything at all..."
"We would be a sorry people indeed if we lacked hard liquor to sooth our worst pains," Faramir explained in good humor.
"My old tribe was similar, though they didn't have anything that strong. Mead and ale were their drink of choice. Though, I'm not sure where they got all their drinks from that far north. The trading vessels brought some every spring."
Hiccup then frowned as he remembered something that Ioreth had mentioned.
"Were there really many people who were burned or maimed by the dragons? How bad is it? I need to know."
Faramir took a seat and a swig from his own flask. It was only the two of them in the tent.
"There are several dozen we are treating now for burns and crushed or missing arms. That is not even counting those who were killed by falling debris or the... tower. We must also think about the families, the wives and the children, who now blame the dragons for what happened."
Hiccup idly nodded and looked away.
"Do you think that they can change and forgive, or is it hopeless? Will they hate people who haven't hurt them?" he asked.
"Hopeless? Gondor has stood against the shadow for countless generations. Our ancestors were the faithful of Numenor. There have been dark times in our history. Many times I thought that there was no hope except for a fool's hope. But we never gave up," Faramir answered.
"How? How did you keep going even when it was hopeless?"
"One step at a time. One mission at a time. We never forgot who we were fighting for. And whenever it was most dire, we remembered... aure entuluva."
"What does that mean?"
"Day will come again."
"I guess so. Sometimes it can be so dark that it's hard to believe that there will be a dawn."
Faramir smiled.
"If I could repeat something that Samwise Gamgee said in our brief time together. He said that 'In the end, it's only a passing thing, a shadow. Even darkness must pass; a new day will come, and when the sun shines it will shine brighter. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. The people in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something."
"What? What were they holding onto?"
Faramir stepped over to him and clasped his shoulder.
"That despite all the bad, all the pain and suffering, there is still good in this world, and this world is worth fighting for."
Hiccup closed his eyes and nodded as Faramir continued.
"Will it be easy to change everyone's mind about the Furies? No, it will not. Can everyone change? Probably not. But that is not a reason to despair and give up. I know that the Furies are not the beasts that some say they are. I have seen you and your family, and Snowflame tending to Eowyn."
A distant, dreamy look appeared in Faramir's eyes as he said that.
"How is she, Eowyn?" Hiccup asked.
"She is... healing still. A great grief lies heavy upon her, even ere she rode to war. I know not why, though I have guesses. We treated all her wounds of body, but a shadow still lies over her heart."
"She didn't like being expected to stay in Edoras. She wanted to be a warrior and fight in battle for glory," Hiccup explained.
Faramir nodded.
"That much I guessed already. Snowflame has helped her greatly. The dragon was the third person Eowyn asked about after her King and brother. I the two sitting together on the grass outside, Eowyn under a wing, as they stare into the distance."
Hiccup smiled softly at the thought.
"They are so close because Snowflame was shot down at Helm's Deep. Her wings were pierced many times by arrows. Eowyn stitched her wings back together. I haven't seen them flying as I do with Burning-Star, but I think they are very good friends. Snowflame will probably give Eowyn the gift of flight, if they haven't done that already."
"That does sound good of them. Seeing Eowyn flying with Snowflame would be a great consolation. I hope that I can see Eowyn's heart be healed. While she is a great warrior and her deeds will be sung about for many years, there is more to life than being a warrior and glory. There is also music, dancing, poetry, gardens, and peace; that is a lesson I wish my brother had learned or better appreciated," Faramir sighed.
"What was he like? I only knew him at the Council in Rivendell. He was very brash, stubborn, and proud."
"Yes, that sounds like my brother. He and my father were very alike: very proud, stubborn, headstrong, and noble at heart. But their pride was their downfall in different ways."
"He needed a little more of this?" Hiccup waved a hand at Faramir.
Faramir frowned at that.
"He was who he needed to be for the people and the soldiers. His bravery was what helped us to recapture Osgiliath in the past. I do believe that I would have been better suited to go with the Fellowship, but my father sent Boromir instead on errand to Rivendell."
Hiccup gasped in shock as he realized the meaning behind some strange words Denethor had spoken before.
"So that is why Denethor was so disturbed. He blamed himself for Boromir's death."
"Yes," Faramir nodded, "and his blaming himself, among other reasons which are now clear to us, led to his despairing and taking his own life."
Oh gods, I couldn't have done that... could I?
It was terrible to think about such a thing. But it was possible that if he felt enough grief and shame he might have considered it or something else terrible. He closed his eyes and remembered how Toothless, Moonbeam, Sky-Dancer, and Far-Flight had been there to comfort him shortly after he awoke in... anguish and despair.
"Are you ready to try walking?" Faramir asked.
"Yeah, let me give this a shot."
He stood up and carefully put some weight on his left leg. As before, there was pain as soon as he tested standing on his own. Then he took a cautious first step without any assistance. But it was more bearable this time, both because he knew what to expect and also possibly because of the liquor.
He did not fall down.
Faramir looked impressed.
"Very good. I have seen many wounds in my time, and I can say that you will heal well."
"Good to hear."
"Was there anything else you wanted to ask before I return to my duties?"
"Actually, there was. It's not that important, but I lost my bow in the battle. It is an Elven bow, as you might have seen. Any chance I could find it?"
Faramir blinked in surprise.
"So that was your bow? One of my men brought in a curious bow that looked of Elven make. I am very sorry to have to tell you that it was broken in the battle."
"What happened?" Hiccup asked in shock.
"I know no more than that. The bow was already crushed when it was found. It was only brought to my attention because of its different make. Do you still want to see it?"
"Sure... I might as well make sure that it's the same one."
Faramir nodded.
"I will have the pieces brought to you. I can escort you to your dragon brother."
"Alright, but I think I've got this."
Slowly and cautiously, Hiccup walked out of the tent one step at a time. Every step with his left leg was painful and sent a spike of pain up his leg. But it was barely tolerable.
He knew that Inferno was gone. He had dropped it when Toothless and Moonbeam were forced to flee from the city. Something must have happened after that which had then broken the bow.
Its loss felt symbolic and again reminded him of the truth that he was not a fighter at all. Battles like that one were not where he belonged.
"I believe that Merry wanted to meet with you and dine. Does tomorrow work?" Faramir asked.
"Yes, I can do that. It'd be good to have more than cram, water, and... whatever this fire-water is..." Hiccup held out the flask.
"Very good. I will be attending to Lady Eowyn and the others who still need care. What do you plan to do after you are healed and the city is emptied?"
"We'll probably head back to Edoras to be with the rest of the pack."
"I can have provisions given to you ere you leave."
"Thank you, Faramir."
Faramir nodded and then departed.
Hiccup shuffled along over to Toothless, who thankfully noticed him and bounded over to his side. Without saying anything at all, Toothless crouched down and closely inspected the peg-leg.
"Is this your new leg and paw?" Toothless warily asked.
"This one is only for now. I can get or make a better one in the future."
"Show me your walking."
He did so, walking several steps while trying to hide the pain. The pain only got worse the more he walked, until finally he visibly winced.
Toothless noticed.
"You are hurting!"
"Yeah, it'll be a while before it's really healed. I need to keep walking until then."
Toothless snorted and crouched down with a nod to his back.
"You can practice walking back in the tent with our kin."
"Sounds good. Think we can stop off and see Wing-Of-Ice and family first?"
"Yes, we can."
They took off and calmly glided high over the city, gradually turning for the northern corner of the city and the tents beyond the wall.
However, they also saw the line of people heading southwest. It was a long convoy of men, women, and children, wagons filled with supplies and possessions, guards, and horses. They were headed to new cities and homes in the western regions of Gondor.
The fountains in the lower levels of the city were silent. There were almost no visible homes or large structures remaining. Piles of rubble filled the first two levels, and even several dozen of the structures on the next few levels had collapsed.
Hiccup knew that the city was basically uninhabitable on the lower levels. It was too damaged to be lived in right now, but it would be repaired in time. One obvious possibility was that the Dwarves would be willing to help rebuild. They were the best miners, masons, and craftsmen in the world.
Even while he thought about the future, it was still very bittersweet to see the great and proud city that he remembered from just a couple of weeks ago now being abandoned and significantly in ruins.
It was almost symbolic of the peace that he was trying to build between humans and the Fury pack. That peace was, as far as he knew, alive and growing stronger in Rohan, but had been damaged in Gondor. However, damaged did not mean completely destroyed. It just meant that it had to be repaired in the future.
If there was a future.
As Hiccup expected, everyone else was gathered around the tent or within it. Moonbeam, Far-Flight, Sky-Dancer, Breath-Of-Sky, and Mystery were talking with Snowflame. He was sure that Eyes-That-Shimmer, Windripper, and Nightfall were definitely with Wing-Of-Ice, probably resting as a family inside the tent.
Those who were outside saw them and immediately bounded toward them.
"Hiccup! Your leg-paw!" Sky-Dancer cried.
Toothless settled down and turned so they could see Hiccup's new paw. Their sire and dam closely nosed at the new leg-paw while grumbling to themselves.
"Can you walk now?" Far-Flight hummed.
Hiccup cautiously got down from Toothless's back; he made sure to land more on his right side to not hurt the stump.
"Some, but it hurts and probably will for a while," Hiccup answered.
Moonbeam still looked worried as she glanced from him to her paws.
"Moonbeam, please come here."
She reluctantly did so and sat down before him.
"Not your fault," he whispered to her.
She blinked and crooned softly after he said that. Then she looked more closely at his peg.
"That looks strange. You look almost like a tree," she muttered.
He laughed freely after that remark.
"You should have seen another Viking from my old tribe. His name was Gobber."
"The one who lets out much belly-gas?" Toothless interjected.
"Yep, that's the one. He lost a foot and a hand."
Breath-Of-Sky gasped.
"He lost them? Where did he lose them?"
Sky-Dancer bent down and nuzzled Breath-Of-Sky's neck.
"A bad dragon bit them off."
Breath-Of-Sky's ears fell and his grin vanished as he stared at the prosthetic.
"Is that what happened to you, big brother? Did a bad dragon bite off your leg-paw?" Breath-Of-Sky sadly warbled.
Hiccup grinned at how his little brother called him a big brother.
"No, I... fell out of the sky when Burning-Star couldn't catch me. Moonbeam caught me. She didn't try to hurt me, but I lost the foot. I am glad that she caught me!"
"Thank you," Moonbeam sighed.
"How are they?" Hiccup then gestured toward the tent.
Sky-Dancer stepped up next to him and sat down.
"They are better. Eyes-That-Shimmer helped much to warm her mate's soul-fire. Nightfall and Windripper are resting with them now. They are all in a pile."
"Good. That's good. Snowflame, how is your... mate?"
"He is chilled by what happened to his sire, but he is strong. He will help his sire stay warm in his soul-fire," Snowflame hummed.
Hiccup nodded and then addressed everyone gathered together.
"I have a suggestion for what we should probably do next."
"What?" Far-Flight asked.
"We should rest a few more days and then head back together to Edoras. Wing-Of-Ice can't fly, so we should probably walk with him to help keep him safe. This city will be almost empty in a few days anyway. There's nothing else we need to do here. We don't need to stay here to guard anything."
The Furies purred in agreement. Then Sky-Dancer hopped over to him, grumbled, and gently poked his belly with a paw.
"You, my little cub, are going to rest now. You are still weak!"
"Mom, I'm not a little cub," Hiccup groaned.
"You are to me, my little one," she answered.
Everyone else chuffed in amusement. Even he was not truly frustrated with her. She was a concerned mom, and he was still weak and recovering. He was not going to complain about her attention.
"Fine, just don't give me any fish from your belly."
"Hiccup, may I enter?" Merry asked from outside the tent.
"Please do!" Hiccup answered from bed.
The Hobbit was clad in his Rohan green. This was their first chance to spend time together since... way back in Edoras. Merry had been under the doctors' care since the battle, and there had not been much time after the Council.
"Good morning. Where are the other dragons?" Merry asked as he entered.
Hiccup idly scratched Breath-Of-Sky's forehead as the fledgling slept with his head on the bed.
"Toothless, Moonbeam, and Mystery are off together. Getting some Olephant, probably. Our parents flew over to the other family to check on them."
"I see you're well-tended to here..." Merry chuckled.
"Yeah, he's keeping me company."
Breath-Of-Sky shifted slightly in his sleep, his tail swishing on the ground.
"How are you getting along?" Merry softly asked.
"Not so bad. I don't think I'll ever get used to this..." he said, waving his peg-leg.
"Does it hurt?" Merry sat down in a chair and frowned.
Hiccup shrugged.
"A little, and it probably will for a long time. But Faramir gave me a flask of some very potent... something. That helps."
"I always liked a strong brew of something. Very potent indeed."
Merry then held out his right hand as if to offer a handshake.
"It's still numb, my hand," Merry grumbled while rolling his fingers.
"Numb? What happened?"
Merry shivered.
"I stabbed the Witch-king. The Barrow-dagger you gave me... turned to ash, and my hand felt like it was burning. Gandalf and Aragorn said something about a curse on anyone who strikes the Witch-king. Never really believed in curses, but I hope this heals soon."
"Hopefully they don't have to take it off..."
Merry looked absolutely horrified, so Hiccup chuckled.
"Just kidding. That won't happen."
"I hope not. Anyway, there aren't many people left in the city, but there is one kitchen still open outside the gates. Want to go get something to eat? They've got some better food than hardtack," Merry asked.
"Sure. I could do with a first breakfast. But... hmm... wouldn't want to leave Breath-Of-Sky out."
Hiccup then twisted one of Breath-Of-Sky's ears. The fledgling grumbled and lifted his head as he awoke.
"You awake, you sleepy dark wing?"
Breath-Of-Sky grumbled and stuck out his tongue.
"Because you woke me up..." the Fury huffed.
"Well, you were trapping me here."
"Dam wanted you to get rest."
"Yeah, but I'm hungry. We're going to get some food. Want to come with?"
He wouldn't normally have asked Breath-Of-Sky to come with toward the city where there might be more hostile people. However, no one among the people in the current camp and among the Rohirrim survivors hated the Furies Further, the city was mostly empty, and the soldiers of Gondor were either marching to the Black Gate or guarding the civilians who were traveling to the western cities. It was unlikely they'd run into angered guards or wounded survivors from the city.
"Yes! You can walk with me!" Breath-Of-Sky eagerly answered.
Hiccup groaned at the reminder of how long a walk it would be around the walls of the city and to the tents. Unless someone would be willing to help him out.
"Brother, would you... carry me? It's a long way to walk, and my leg would hurt a lot."
Breath-Of-Sky hummed, nodded, and crouched down by the bed. Hiccup climbed onto his back and sat by his shoulders. It felt very different from being on Toothless because Breath-Of-Sky was smaller at just over half of Toothless's size. However, the fledgling was still big enough to comfortably carry him.
"Ready?" Breath-Of-Sky warbled and glanced back at him.
"Yes, let's go!"
They left the tent and walked together along the wall and other tents bearing Rohan flags. The horses snorted and whinnied as Breath-Of-Sky passed them by.
"What kind of food do they have?" Breath-Of-Sky asked.
"Mostly breads and vegetables. They also have some pork jerky," Merry answered.
"What is that?" Breath-Of-Sky asked.
"Remember the salty meat at the Golden Hall?" Hiccup asked.
Breath-Of-Sky rumbled and licked his lips.
"Yes! That was very tasty even though it was not a new catch."
"They dry the meat out to stop it from going bad... from going rotted," Hiccup explained.
"That is good thinking," Breath-Of-Sky mused.
They arrived at the tents that were reserved for more of the wounded in battle. A few doctors were walking about and carrying supplies. Guards in silver armor stood at attention while holding pikes.
"Where to?" Hiccup asked Merry.
The Hobbit took the lead, guiding them to a large tent. There were a number of women and some children working around the tent.
"There are tables inside. It's not quite the same as the Green Dragon, but it's good enough for a place made on short-notice."
Hiccup then patted Breath-Of-Sky on the neck.
"Mind helping me down?"
The Fury crouched down and waited as he got down. Merry also helped him down to not shock his leg.
"Is your leg good and not hurting?" Breath-Of-Sky crooned.
"Yes, but my belly is not happy!"
Breath-Of-Sky snorted and nodded at the tent.
"Go get food in your food-den! I will sit here."
"Sounds good. I'll bring you some salted pork if they have any."
Breath-Of-Sky then sat down on his rear by the tent's entrance while he looked out over the Pelennor. His eyes were wide in curiosity, but he also looked somewhat sad, probably from the remaining ruin across the fields.
Hiccup awkwardly shuffled inside the tent. The tent was very large inside and had a big pot being stirred over a central firepit. Most of the tables and chairs were taken by dozens of big men and a few women who were talking to each other. The men were a mix of Rohirrim and Gondorian soldiers.
He took an available table while Merry confidently strode up to an attendant to request some food.
Meanwhile, Hiccup looked around at everyone else in the tent.
It was very concerning and disturbing seeing how many of the men in the tent were bandaged, had scars or burn marks, or were visibly missing a limb or appendage. There were many different discussions happening.
"Heading to my cousin in Belfalas..." "Still hurts a lot..." "Hope they're going to be fine..." "Damn beasts, wish the captain had let us skin them..." "Killed so many of us..."
Merry returned with a couple plates of vegetables, dry bread, cheese, some jerky, and a wrapped pouch.
"What's that?"
"The salted pork for Breath-Of-Sky," Merry answered.
"Ah, good."
They ate in relative silence because of the gloomy atmosphere inside the tent. Hiccup froze in the middle of his meal when he heard one of the conversations.
"Still say that the beasts have them fooled! Those blasted dragons will turn on us!" "Yeah, agreed. Lost my brother to them..." "Not all of them... the ones up in Rohan are friendly enough... so I've heard..." "Probably a trick..."
Merry noticed him listening in to that discouraging discussion.
"Don't worry about it. They're hurt by the battle and still grieving."
"I know, but they're blaming people who didn't harm them. They want to blame someone, so they blame people who look like the ones who hurt them. It's so wrong."
Merry frowned.
"Maybe just let them grumble. They'll heal and move on eventually."
Another group of men entered and went to join their comrades.
"Yeah, eventually they'll heal, but what about in the meantime? What if they start telling other people that all dragons are monsters?" Hiccup explained.
He had no time to say anything else before one of the new men raised his voice.
"One of them's here now just outside!"
Discontented grumbling followed that as a few men got to their feet.
Wait a minute... they're talking about...
One of the men, who was apparently drunk, drew a dagger and waved it around.
"Let's kill it!"
Hiccup flew to his feet and angrily spun on them.
"That 'it' is one of my brothers, and he has never hurt anyone!"
Silence followed that as everyone else faced him. The man with a dagger pointed it at him.
"It's your brother? What? Did a dragon plow your mother?"
"His mother adopted me!"
"He's the dragon's servant! He brought the beasts from the north!" another man shouted.
"They are not beasts!" Hiccup shouted.
"They are animals!" the drunk man slammed his fists on the table.
"So are we!"
Breath-Of-Sky stuck his nose into the tent.
"Why are you all roaring at each other?" he asked.
The man with the dagger sloppily threw the dagger at Breath-Of-Sky. The weapon tumbled wildly and struck the tent's cloth wall, falling harmlessly to the ground.
Breath-Of-Sky hopped back out of the tent and disappeared from view. Hiccup grabbed the bag of salted pork and furiously stormed out of the tent as people shouted at him and each other. The first thing he saw once he flung open the curtains was Breath-Of-Sky's expression of shock and betrayal. The Fury's jaw hung open as his eyes were narrowed.
"What did I do wrong?" he gasped.
"Nothing."
Hiccup went to comfort him when he felt a heavy hand fall on his shoulders as someone spun him around. A fist was flying at his head.
With reflexes born of months of living with and playing with Furies and from years of surviving Snotlout on Berk, he ducked under the blow. However, he was left off-balance and fell on his side with a cry of pain as fire flared in his stump.
Everything moved in slow-motion as he saw Breath-Of-Sky lunge and swipe with a paw at the attacker. The man was struck, knocked a couple fathoms through the air, and fell in a tumble to the ground. Breath-Of-Sky wasted no time, bent down to help him up, and quickly flipped him onto his back.
Then he jumped for the sky and, without any difficulty carrying him in flight, glided away over the tents.
Up in safety and away from the danger, what had happened felt too real, still too near as the pain in his stump subsided. The peace and quiet of healing and recovering had let him get complacent. The hurts that the Mordor Furies had caused were still very fresh and raw to many of the survivors.
His younger brother had just been threatened, not to mention himself. It would take only one of those drunk or vengeful men to find an opportunity when everyone was asleep, sneak into a tent, and...
We can't stay here any longer. We're no longer safe here.
He said nothing more until they landed by the tent a minute later. They dashed inside, and Breath-Of-Sky lay down with a whine. So Hiccup carefully dismounted and held his brother's hung head.
"You okay, brother?"
"Yes, but I do not know why... they hate me and tried to hurt you."
"They were hurt by dragons in the fighting; that's why they want to blame any dragons."
Breath-Of-Sky nodded and warily spoke. There was a different strength in his words and how he spoke. His eyes were still faintly narrowed as opposed to the very wide that they usually were.
"I know that humans and dragons have not been friends much. Our sire and dam told me stories about how life was before."
Really? That's actually surprising. How have you always been so friendly?
"Did I do a bad thing by fighting there? I might have hurt that human who grabbed you," Breath-Of-Sky continued.
He wasn't sure if that angry man had suffered any permanent injuries. For a Night Fury, Breath-Of-Sky had shown a lot of restraint in just knocking the man aside.
"No, you didn't do anything wrong. He'll be fine. Can you please go get our parents? I need to talk to them as soon as we can."
"Okay."
Breath-Of-Sky hopped outside and vanished from sight with a sweep of his wings. It was only after his little brother, who it seemed now was not as oblivious as he had thought he was, had left that Hiccup collapsed in place and let out the pain through his tears. If there was anyone who definitely did not deserve to have their life threatened for the fault of being a dragon, it was Breath-Of-Sky.
When Sky-Dancer and Far-Flight arrived in haste a couple minutes later and dashed with a cry of alarm into the tent, he said nothing at first of what happened. There was no need; their narrowed eyes and very faint growls were enough to show that they knew that he had been hurt somehow. Breath-Of-Sky slithered in past them and sat down by the bed.
Hiccup frowned as he considered what to say. He was tempted to hide part of the truth or at least to be dismissive of the danger, joking about something was one way to take away fear of it, but the life or death of family was not a laughing matter.
So he told them the entire truth of what happened and why it was that they had all overstayed their welcome here. There was no further reason to stay in Gondor. It was time to go home.
Toothless, Moonbeam, and Mystery returned from their meal of massive four-leg Olephant. It was a very fatty meat, and there was so much of it still left that many days would pass before it was all rotted. None of them would need to eat for many days.
But he noticed something strange when he got back to the tent. His sire, dam, brothers, Merry, and Faramir were outside the tent; they were definitely waiting for him, Moonbeam, and Mystery to get back.
He touched down and pranced up to them. Sky-Dancer immediately hopped over to him.
"Burning-Star, we must talk now," she hastily said in alarm.
Something was very wrong if she was worried.
"What is it?"
"Hiccup says we should leave the city and this range now, and I agree with him."
"Why now?" he warbled.
"Because he and Breath-Of-Sky were attacked!" she snarled.
"What!" he growled in shock.
Moonbeam also barked in alarm and stared at Hiccup. They both bounded over to him and Breath-Of-Sky to nuzzle them in reassurance.
"We're fine, but we need to talk," Hiccup reassured them.
"What happened? Do I need to kill someone?" Toothless snarled.
Faramir stepped forward.
"No, I had my Rangers, people whom I trust, speak to the angry survivors who threatened them. I would offer to have guards here for you all, but that might not be necessary."
"But why did anyone attack you?" Moonbeam asked.
Hiccup looked very pained and chilled.
"They were survivors who were hurt by the enemy dark wings, and the survivors blamed me... and all dragons for what happened to the city."
Toothless spun in place and growled in the direction of the tents before the walls.
"But that is very twisted! We did not hurt them! We helped them!"
Hiccup slowly nodded.
"It would still be best for everyone if we leave and head back to Edoras now. We should go with Wing-Of-Ice, Eyes-That-Shimmer, and their family. All of us will be safer there."
Far-Flight nodded and purred.
"We agree with this. There is danger in staying here: one of the hurt humans with twisted-thinking might try to hurt us when we sleep."
Toothless and Moonbeam shared a glance and purr of agreement.
"Then we will leave and walk to Edoras. When do we go?" he agreed.
"Right now. Eyes-That-Shimmer wants Wing-Of-Ice and Nightfall away from the danger. Faramir already brought some supplies for me," Hiccup explained and gestured at the filled saddlepack.
Faramir winced and slightly slumped in place.
"I am truly sorrowful that this happened and that your departure is necessary. I expected better from the people of the city, though these are exceptional circumstances."
"Don't worry about it. I understand those people who were hurt. They need time," Hiccup answered.
Toothless grumbled to himself, remembering another problem that was not so easy to get away from.
"What about the captured dragon, Burzghash?" he growled.
"We will hold it until Flame-In-The-Night returns and decides what to do. He would know best what to do with it," Faramir answered.
"Kill it and drop it in a waste pit, I say," he grumbled.
"If it is too dangerous to be left alive and if it does swear more wanton death, then killing it might be necessary to prevent greater loss of life. But that is a decision for the Alpha and the King," Faramir reluctantly agreed.
Merry stepped over to Hiccup and gave him a hug which he returned.
"Hiccup, you stay safe out there. No missing meals now! I'd give you a pipe to smoke, but I have no more pipeweed."
"You ran out of Old Toby?" Hiccup asked.
"Aye, that's the stuff. Shame they don't have any here in Gondor."
Faramir faintly grinned at the exchange.
"May the Shire be forever unwithered, Master Hobbit."
Hiccup addressed Faramir after Merry stepped back to his side.
"Could you please tell Flame-In-The-Night where we went? He would want to know once he gets back."
Faramir nodded.
"I shall inform him. One more thing, as you head north do stay out of the Druadan Forest. The people who live within prefer to keep to themselves."
"That's fine. We can stick to the Anduin and then follow the Entwash into Rohan," Hiccup explained.
"Travel safely," Faramir said.
Faramir and Merry then turned back and left for the main tents and the gates.
Sky-Dancer stepped over to Hiccup's side and nudged his shoulder.
"We should go now."
"Yes, yes we should."
Toothless walked at Hiccup's side after Hiccup strapped his last supplies to the saddle. Everyone started toward the tent outside which the other Furies were waiting. Hiccup's walking got progressively slower as he went, so Toothless stepped before him and blocked his path with a wing.
"Huh?" Hiccup groaned.
"You are telling me what happened."
"Nothing much happened. A drunk, angry man shouted at me and threw a knife at our brother. It wasn't even close to hitting him."
"Is that all?" he warily asked.
"Well, not exactly. Someone else knocked me down, and our brother knocked him down too. But everyone was fine in the end."
Toothless growled freely.
"I should not have left you alone. Not with your leg. How is walking with it?"
"Great!"
"Hiccup..."
Hiccup slumped and sighed heavily.
"Not so great. I can walk, but it hurts more and more the longer I'm on my feet."
"Then do not be on your feet too much."
He crouched down so Hiccup could climb on. Hiccup hesitated for a moment.
"Okay, but I need to practice so I can get stronger and learn to walk again."
Toothless thought about it and saw that it was true. Some amount of hurting was needed so that Hiccup could grow stronger.
"That is good thinking, but do not try to hide your hurting. I will carry you when you need it, like now."
Hiccup nodded in acceptance and then climbed on his back.
"Fair enough."
They resumed walking and arrived with the rest of their present pack.
Toothless thought that Wing-Of-Ice, having had a couple days now with his mate and his children at his side to console him, looked much warmer in his soul-fire. His eyes were wider and his ears were up at their approach. That Nightfall was proudly perched on his back might have helped with him feeling warmer and happier.
He also saw Breath-Of-Sky and Mystery, and Snowflame and Windripper standing at each other's shoulders. That was when he noticed a slight problem which had probably already been answered.
"Snowflame, are you coming with us or staying with Eowyn?"
"Eowyn is being comforted by her kin and by Faramir. I told her that I would go with my mate's kin. She understands and wants me to go with him," she said.
He approved that Eowyn had no problem with being apart from Snowflame for a while. That willingness to be apart when necessary meant that they were true friends who trusted each other.
Eyes-That-Shimmer stepped up before him and addressed Hiccup.
"How long is the walk to Edoras?"
Hiccup groaned as he considered the length of the journey.
"About three hundred miles. If we can make twenty miles a day, that would be just over two weeks, about half a moon-cycle, of walking."
Toothless thought about, already imagining his paws hurting from the walking.
It was going to be a long walk for sure, but the walk from the Shire to Rivendell was far lengthier, though they had flown the last part of that journey.
He knew that this journey would be far safer. The Enemy's attention would be elsewhere, they were not carrying the Ring, and among them there were seven adult Furies who had their fire.
Nothing would bother them on the journey home. The river and hills along the mountains could provide fish and other prey.
"Are we all ready to go?" Hiccup asked.
Purrs and nods of agreement followed all around.
"Go? Go where?" Nightfall chirped from on her father's back.
"On an adventure!" Hiccup cheerfully answered.
"Yay, do I need to fly?"
Wing-Of-Ice glanced back over his shoulder at her.
"No, my dear little cub, you can rest there as much as you like, and I will carry you."
"Yay!" she cried and then curled up on his back.
Toothless hummed at the sight and then barked softly in surprise as Moonbeam nudged his shoulder with a sly purr.
"I want to see you do that with a cub," she hummed.
"I will. We will," he snorted.
Then he started walking, leading his kin on paw to the north along the base of the mountains. Hiccup started humming a familiar walking song that they had both heard many times on their journey from the Shire.
"The Road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, and I must follow, if I can. Pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins some larger way where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say."
Toothless thought about the words and realized that they were not truly about a road or path that humans or Hobbits walked on.
"The road is life," he hummed.
"Yeah, I think so too."
They walked in silence until they were out past the last of the Rohan tents and well out into the wild. Then he paused and looked back over the Pelennor. They all did together.
The Pelennor and most of the city were covered in shadow from the thick clouds. From this distance it appeared that everything was still and quiet. The flickering orange glow that was usually present on the eastern horizon was gone. The wind, so fierce high up where the clouds were blown about, was calm on the surface, so calm even that the flags, banners, and tents were motionless.
It was as though the world was either at peace or was waiting for something to happen.